New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-04
JOHN ROACH DYING OF C4NCEh
THE GREAT sHIP-BUu.DER NEAR HIS END.
ATTRIBUTING THE DISEASE TO HIS FORCED ASSIGN
MENT--AN HEROIC DEATH.

ATTRIBUTING THE DISEASE TO HIS FORCED ASSIGN
MENT--AN HEROIC DEATH.
For some weeks it has been known that John
Roach the great shp-buidsr has b,cn confined to his
home No. 624 Fith-ave in generally failing health.
In compliance with his desire that his friends
should not be neodessly alarmed. and apPrehensve
of the effect upon hr. Roach himself of learning the
real nature OF the disease which he IA suffering
his family and physician, have been retccnt in regard
to his condition. Mr. Roah realizes rully the fact
that his recovery impossible and that the reason for
conceament longer exists. He is beyond the
reach OF medicsl help save in the alleviiton OF his
suferings which have for long tame incessant
aud intense. lie is suffering from epithelioma and
the development of the disease has been similar to
that of General Grant except that the cancer Is on the
root of the month instead Of in the throat. gents-
man representing the Roach tapily in speakng of the
case to a TRIBUNE reporter last evening said
"The first sign of the cancer was slight pain,
scarcely enough TO attract attention which appeared
ID the mouth last January and which, through its con-
tiuuousness. came to be nervously exhaustive. In
February Mr. Roach had severe attack of illness
which was com llcsted by indigestion and the cancer
developed itself fully 1t then found ncces
sary 10 perform an operation nd March 10 Dr. Hen
~ b. Sands one of General Grants Physicians and an
eminent cancer specialist assisted by Dr. Ebenezer Il.
Belden cut away n part OF the upper jaw hoping that
as the disease was developing the bone he might
remove entirely the afflicted part ard thus arrest the
progress of the disease. Mr. Roach rallied Tor Tune
and il hoped that the operation had ben entirely
successful. In the summer, however, the disease
again began 10 manifest itself and Mr.. Roachs phys
clans knew that is second appearance Indicated iata
results as bis physical condition woulo no warrant
second operation. that gave p,sslbty OF ne
II was thought trat perhaps Mr. Roach might he
bent I'd by n CHI nge of climate aud i'll August lie was
akan To Nh Mr(,rrpOp Weeks
The fresh pure mir OF this re-On and lis quiet ana So
clusicn together with the faithful care and attention
of his devoted family really benehied him and his
general condition became somewhat Improved but
the cancer slowly eating hts life away and IN spite
OF the care received and the assduous tcnon OF
his ph vs. cian DR.. Belden. he steadily declined IN
the latter part OF September he retnrped TO his homo
in this c,ty and went to his nee III the Morgan Iron
Works at the foot OF East Nuth.si every day until
Just before Thanksgiving Day. During all TINS tine
he acute tuhe'er day ana night irrIn hs
dreadful disease and knew relief until II b, cam
necessary TO administer anodynes snco ihdhhS-N-
ing Day he has been cOnLed 10 his honse ana lot hon
time past 10 his bed.
Az was the case with General Grant be Is hcroi-
oally facing deafh an evabie result and is dying hY
inches Mr. Roach has had ren'a khblc constitution
which for many years has enabled HIN 10 he onsi-
burdens and strains such as few men endure
HIS first physical breakdown was prDducef by tn
shock OF bis assignment. step which he ielt wa"
forced upon hun orte to save his oondsmen and Tor
the security his creditors But the Iun Of the bust
winch he had tor 70 many years gwen nus lie 10
build up and the crush ng OF his ambiton. even
stronger than his business Interests 10 th's Nation
possess a merchant worthy Of its ositiop and
future was mole than be could endure. His heart was
broken and bis strong body gave way. lie has never
been well since that tine
=" Ii was tue common belief in General Grants coss
that the cancer produced 10y an excessive nss
tobacco. though this denied by the medical men
and the disease attributed by them 10 tie nervous
shock produced bv tue Grant and Ward failure.
This theory borne ont in Mr. koacis case. Mr..
Roach a man OF thoroughly tom >erate habits AMI
never used tobacco any tom aud the Gisessc can
not b.. attribut TO any other than the shock
produced by his assignment